populism Flashcards
1
Q
where was democratic support?
A
- solid south
- industrial northeast (from business + blue collar workers + recent immigrants)
- 1890s, lot of support from small western farmers
2
Q
origins of populism
A
- evolution of groups e.g. grange movement, farmers alliance - rural movements sometimes worked w/ knights of labour
- groups coalesced into peoples party
- populism first appeared at state level in 1890
- Omaha platform set out populist party’s aims + manifesto in 1892
3
Q
aims of populism
A
- railroad nationalisation
- opportunity for farmers + settlers to gain land from corporations + foreigners
- graduated income tax
- currency not controlled by private bankers
- free silver - end of the gold money supply
3
Q
aims of populism
A
- railroad nationalisation
- opportunity for farmers + settlers to gain land from corporations + foreigners
- graduated income tax
- currency not controlled by private bankers
- free silver - end of the gold money supply
4
Q
where was populist support?
A
south, western plains + rocky mountains
5
Q
weakness of the democrat party
A
- weakened by econ panic of 1893 + following depression
- divided after poor showing in 1894 mid-term elections
- Cleveland + bourbon democrats stuck to traditional laissez faire economics
- in 1895 got financial support from JP Morgan ($62 mill) to prop up gold reserves – gave ammunition to opponents, seen as supporting big business over little man
- eastern conservatives that’d backed Cleveland lukewarm in support of Bryan
- outside of south + west, ppl suspicious of free silver
- McKinley’s high protective tariff + gold standard promises better received than Bryan’s unorthodox economics + fundamental religion
- Bryan symbolised division between anti-urban wing + bourbon democrats
6
Q
why did populists + democrats join forces
A
- populists too small to win majority
- democrats need populist states, combat threat to two party system
7
Q
national nominating convention
A
- currency debate won by silverites, free silver adopted into democrat aims
- william jennings bryan given presidential nomination
8
Q
what happened to populism after 1896 election
A
- democrats + populists lost
- populism loses momentum
- swallowed by democrat party
- 1900 election, only gets 50,000 votes
- replaced by progressivism as mode of reform
9
Q
republican election campaign (impact of hanna)
A
- unlike fiery orator bryan, relied on money
- wealthy political machine drove mckinley’s presidency
- campaign orchestrated by mark hanna
- hanna = rich businessman + politician, knew about patronage, brill fundraiser
- mckinley campaign spent $7 million, 1000+ volunteers sending letters to voters etc
- apart from hanna, mckinley had advantages over weak democrat party
10
Q
1896 election results
A
republicans = 57% (600,000 votes)
democrats = 47%
